Pipe painting machine



Oct. 15, 1935. DQUGHERTY 2,017,042

PIPE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l bweniai': 6120955 0006/4597), y:

G. DOUGHERTY' 4 I 42 PIPE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1932 3Sheets-Shee t 2 men/for: 60E6 DOUGHEETY, 5y:

WA! M/ Oct. 15, 1935. DQUGH'ERTY 2,017,042

PIPE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2'7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rgza MA Lu a (lfrfw/i d Patented st. 15, 1935 PIPE PAINTING MACHINE George Dougherty, Port Vue, Pa., asslgnor to National Tube Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 27,1932, Serial No. 595,603

I 3 Claims. (01. 91-25) This invention is a machine which I have contrived for the purpose of thoroughly coating the inside of a pipe while being moved through it.

- In its primary form it consists of a structure which may be passed through a pipe, and carries nozzles arranged to create aradially directed spray of paint and revolvable brushes which work this spray-applied, paint into a homogeneous coating. Preferably, its construction is such that it accommodates a reasonable range of pipe sizes,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the brush end of 25 the machine.

In detail, a. frame I carries an axle 2 and has radially extending adjustable legs 3 provided with rollers 4. These legs are adjusted so that their rollers 4 bear-against the inside of a pipe 3 5, the one to be coated, and hold the axle 2 at the axis of this pipe.

The end of the axle carries radially extending arms 6 having hinged brushes I on their ends, resiliently urged into alinement with the arms 35 by springs 8. These brushes are hinged to swing in a direction opposite that in which the arms are rotated. The brushes 1 swing against the force of the springs 8 more or less, depending on the size of the pipe 5.

Radially directed nozzles 9 are carried by the axle 2 on valved headers Ill and a single direct header II. This axle is in the form of atube which, in turn, carries 'a second tube l2 which communicates with the headers I 0 and has a paint inlet M. The latter connection is made through a stuffing box IE, to permit rotation of the axle. The space between the inside of the axle 2 and the outside of the tube I 2 communicates with the header H and a compressed air inlet Hi. This connection is made through a double-ended stufling box II, also for the purpose of permitting rotation'of the axle 2.

The frame I carries a gear reduction unit H? which gears an air motor I 9 to the axle}. Com- 55 pressed air is supplied to this motor through an inlet 20, and exhausts through a mufller ,2 I.

In use, the machine is inserted in a pipe and is manually drawn through by the frame], paint being supplied through the inlet l4 and air through the inlet IS. The valves in-the headers B0 are adjusted so that the paint comes from the 5 nozzles in aspray. Air is supplied to the motor I9 so that the nozzles and brushes revolve'as the machine moves through the pipe. The fact, that these nozzles are slightly ofiset from the axis of the pipe by their carrying headers does not pre- 10 vent, the productionof a radial spray, because, the diameter of the pipe 5 is sufiiciently large to render this slight displacement negligible.

Although I have shown a specific form of my invention in accordance with the patent statutes, 15 I do not intend to limit its scope exactly thereto, except as defined by the following claims.

I claim: g

1. A machine for coating the insides'of pipes comprising a frame carrying an axle and having radially extending legs proportionately adjustable to hold this axle substantially at the axis of a pipe, said axle carrying radially extending arms having hinged brushes resiliently urged into alinement. with these arms and-also carrying radially directed nozzles and being constructed ried by said frame and geared to said axle.

'2. In a machine for coatingv the insides of 3o pipes, a frame carrying means for applying coating material to the insides of pipes and revolvable members carried by the frame and for work ing said material, said frame having legs that are adjustable to accommodate a range'of pipe sizes and which are arranged to hold said frame so that the axis of revolution of said members is substantially atthe axis of the pipe being coated, mountings for said revolvable members permitting their movement through sufiicient distances to enable them to contact the insides of pipes of sizes within said range and means for urging the revolvable members outwardly during operation of the machine.

3. -A machine for ooatingthe-insides of pipes comprising 'a frame carrying an axle and having radiallyextending legs proportionately adjustable to hold this axle substantially at the axis ofa pipe, said axle carrying radially extending arms having hinged brushes resiliently urged into alinement with these arms and also-carrying radially directed-nozzles and being constructed with internal ducts for leading compressed .air 

